Unlocking electronic devices using touchscreen input gestures

ABSTRACT

A computer implemented method for detecting input gesture events on a touchscreen of an electronic device and for unlocking the electronic device is disclosed. The method may include displaying, while the electronic device is in a locked state, a plurality of guidance lines on the touchscreen of the electronic device, detecting, during an input gesture event, guidance line crossings and calculating a number of guidance line crossings detected during the input gesture event. The method may also include converting a calculated number of detected guidance line crossings into at least one password digit, comparing a sequence of password digits to a stored password in the electronic device and unlocking, in response to comparing the sequence of password digits to the stored password, the electronic device.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to unlocking an electronic device. Inparticular, this disclosure relates to detecting touchscreen inputgestures and converting them to password characters used to unlock atouchscreen device.

A touchscreen may be an electronic visual display that a user cancontrol through simple or multi-touch gestures, by touching the screenwith one or more fingers or a stylus or pen. Some touchscreens mayrespond to finger touches and gestures, while others may be designed torespond to a special stylus or pen. The user may use the touchscreen asan input device to interact directly with information displayed on thescreen, and possibly to control how it is displayed. For example,selection choices from a menu displayed on the touchscreen may bereceived by the touchscreen, or the size of a displayed image, such as amap, may be altered through touchscreen input gestures.

Touchscreens may be found in a variety of applications where keyboardand mouse input devices may not allow a suitably intuitive, rapid, oraccurate interaction by the user with the display's content. Forexample, touch screens may be common in devices such as smartphones,tablet computers, all-in-one computers, game consoles and automaticteller machines (ATMs). They can also be attached to computers or, asterminals, to networks. Touchscreens may play a prominent role in thedesign of digital appliances such as personal digital assistants (PDAs),satellite navigation devices, mobile phones, video games and e-books(electronic books).

A password may be a word or sequence of characters used to provide userauthentication, to allow a user to gain access to an electronic resourceor device. For example, a computer user may specify a password having acustomizable number and sequence of characters that must be enteredbefore access to the computer is allowed. A password may be a form of anelectronic “key” that allows an authorized user to access an electronicdevice, while preventing unwanted or unauthorized users from accessingthe device. A password may generally be short enough to be easilymemorized and entered into an electronic device.

SUMMARY

Various aspects of the present disclosure may be useful for providingenhanced password security for an electronic device having atouchscreen. An electronic device configured according to embodiments ofthe present disclosure may, as a result of obfuscation of a passwordentered through one or more gestures on the electronic device'stouchscreen, have a high level of security against unauthorized access.

Embodiments may be directed towards a computer implemented method fordetecting input gesture events on a touchscreen of an electronic deviceand for unlocking the electronic device. The method may includedisplaying, while the electronic device is in a locked state, aplurality of guidance lines on the touchscreen of the electronic device,detecting, during an input gesture event, guidance line crossings, andcalculating a number of guidance line crossings detected during theinput gesture event. The method may also include converting a calculatednumber of detected guidance line crossings into at least one passworddigit, comparing a sequence of password digits to a stored password inthe electronic device, and unlocking, in response to comparing thesequence of password digits to the stored password, the electronicdevice.

Embodiments may also be directed towards an electronic device. Theelectronic device may include a touchscreen display, configured todisplay, while the electronic device is in a locked state, a pluralityof guidance lines, and to detect, during an input gesture event,guidance line crossings. The electronic device may also include one ormore processor circuits, configured to calculate a number of guidanceline crossings detected during the input gesture event, and convert acalculated number of detected guidance line crossings into at least onepassword digit. The processor circuits may also be configured to comparea sequence of password digits to a stored password in the electronicdevice, and to unlock, in response to the compare of the sequence ofpassword digits to the stored password, the electronic device.

Embodiments may also be directed towards a computer program product fordetecting input gesture events on a touchscreen of an electronic deviceand for unlocking the electronic device. The computer program productmay include a computer readable storage medium having programinstructions stored thereon. The program instructions may be executableby a device [e.g., computer, processor, processor circuit, etc.] tocause the device to display, while the electronic device is in a lockedstate, a plurality of guidance lines on the touchscreen of theelectronic device. The program instructions may also cause the device todetect, during an input gesture event, guidance line crossings,calculate a number of guidance line crossings detected during the inputgesture event and convert a calculated number of detected guidance linecrossings into at least one password digit. The program instructions mayalso cause the device to compare a sequence of password digits to astored password in the electronic device, and unlock, in response to thecompare of the sequence of password digits to a stored password, theelectronic device.

Aspects of the various embodiments may be used to conceal a password,entered by the user of an electronic device, from unauthorized users whomay observe the password being entered. Aspects of the variousembodiments may also be useful for providing a cost-effective passwordsecurity enhancement for use with a wide variety of touchscreenelectronic devices, by using existing and proven software and electronichardware technologies and design practices.

The above summary is not intended to describe each illustratedembodiment or every implementation of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings included in the present application are incorporated into,and form part of, the specification. They illustrate embodiments of thepresent disclosure and, along with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the disclosure. The drawings are only illustrative ofcertain embodiments and do not limit the disclosure.

FIG. 1A depicts a touchscreen with displayed guidance lines, accordingto embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B depicts touchscreen input gestures, according to embodiments.

FIG. 2A depicts a touchscreen input gesture, according to embodiments.

FIG. 2B depicts a touchscreen input gesture resembling a numeral,according to embodiments.

FIG. 3A depicts a touchscreen input gesture having 2 points of contact,according to embodiments.

FIG. 3B depicts a “0” touchscreen input gesture, according toembodiments.

FIG. 4A depicts touchscreen “0” input gesture areas, according toembodiments.

FIG. 4B depicts a touchscreen displaying a numeric keypad input area,according to embodiments.

FIG. 5A depicts a touchscreen with curved guidance lines, according toembodiments.

FIG. 5B depicts a touchscreen with irregular shaped guidance lines,according to embodiments.

FIG. 6A depicts a touchscreen with concentric circular guidance lines,according to embodiments.

FIG. 6B depicts a touchscreen with regular (“wavy”) guidance lines,according to embodiments.

FIG. 7 depicts a touchscreen display and processor units, according toembodiments.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating steps for unlocking an electronicdevice in response to detected touchscreen guidance line crossings,according to embodiments.

While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternativeforms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in thedrawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood,however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to theparticular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention.

In the drawings and the Detailed Description, like numbers generallyrefer to like components, parts, steps, and processes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure can be appreciated in thecontext of providing enhanced password security for mobile digitaldevices with touchscreens such as smartphones, personal digitalassistants (PDAs), satellite navigation devices (GPS units) andelectronic books. Such mobile digital devices may contain sensitive andvaluable user data such as personal identity and financial information.While not necessarily limited thereto, embodiments discussed in thiscontext can facilitate an understanding of various aspects of thedisclosure. Certain embodiments may also be directed towards otherequipment and associated applications, such as providing enhancedpassword security for computers, which may be used in a wide variety ofpersonal and commercial applications. Such computers may include, butare not limited to tablet, touchscreen or all-in-one computers.Embodiments may also be directed towards providing enhanced passwordsecurity for publicly available electronic devices such as automatedteller machines (ATMs), kiosk computers and permanently installedsecurity and automation systems.

For ease of discussion and illustration, the term “smartphone” is usedherein, however, it is understood that various embodiments can also beuseful with regards to other electronic devices and systems such astablet computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), automatic tellermachines (ATMs), publicly accessible computer kiosks, or otherelectronic devices or systems where password obfuscation may bedesirable.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method ofentering passwords into a touchscreen electronic device, which mayconceal the entered password from individuals who may observe electronicdevice during password entry. The password entry method may therefore beuseful for providing enhanced security of electronic devices which maybe accessed in view of unauthorized users. Enhanced electronic datasecurity may result from the use of the password entry method. Thepassword entry method may also be useful in providing authorized userswith the ability to rapidly access touchscreen electronic devices andsystems through touchscreen input gestures which may be easilymemorized, and which may be difficult for an unauthorized user torecognize and replicate. A password entry method according toembodiments may have cost advantages over certain authentication methodssuch as biometric identification.

A password entry method implemented according to certain embodiments maybe compatible with existing and proven touchscreen electronic devices,and may be a useful and cost-effective way to protect sensitive andvaluable data. A password entry method constructed according toembodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented on a variety ofexisting electronic devices and systems.

Portable electronic devices such as smartphones and PDAs have becomevery popular and widely adopted as a result of an extensive range ofcapabilities and benefits they can offer users. Capabilities such asconvenient, mobile access to the Internet for web browsing, sending andreceiving email, instant messaging, texting, video communication, and awide range of available applications have incented many portable deviceowners to use their smartphone (or other portable electronic device) fortasks and functions formerly only performed on a computer. Onlinebanking, shopping, stock trading, small business management, and manytypes of personal and commercial communication are now performedreliably and regularly using portable devices such as smartphones.

The growing popularity of mobile devices has precipitated an increase inthe amount of private and sensitive data that is stored on, andtransferred through, devices such as smartphones. Vulnerable data mayinclude identity-related items such as names, phone numbers, addressesand Social Security numbers, and financial data such as bank account andcredit card numbers. While having these types of sensitive data on asmall, conveniently mobile device is advantageous to many users, it alsopresents significant security risks. A compromised smartphone password,for example, may result in identity theft, or many types of fraudulent,criminal activities, resulting from data accessed or retrieved from asmartphone by an unauthorized user.

A smartphone password may be entered by simply typing numbers onto akeypad displayed on a touchscreen, or by using keys on a keypad. Whilethese methods of password entry may be effective, they may also beeasily observed by a nearby, unauthorized user of the smartphone, whomay recognize the entered password, and may take advantage of it at alater time.

Similarly, a password may be entered through an input gesture having acertain geometric pattern or shape. These methods, however, may also beobserved and recognized, which may allow the recognized pattern to beused to gain unauthorized access to a smartphone or other mobile device.

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method forunlocking a touchscreen electronic device by the device receivingtouchscreen input gestures that may be concealed from an unauthorizeduser, and converting them to password digits to unlock the device.

FIG. 1A depicts a touchscreen 102 of an electronic device such as asmartphone or PDA, with (straight) displayed guidance lines 106A . . .106I, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. A user of theelectronic device may, through touchscreen input gestures, entercharacters of a password used to unlock the electronic device, accordingto embodiments of the present disclosure. Touch screen 102 inputgestures and associated password characters, entered into the electronicdevice, may be concealed from individuals other than an authorized user,according to embodiments. A touchscreen input gesture may be convertedinto one or more password characters, in response to a number ofguidance lines 106A . . . 106I crossed by the input gesture, accordingto embodiments

Touchscreen 102 may be generally useful for displaying data from andreceiving user input to an electronic device. Guidance lines 106A . . .106I may be useful in defining guidance line crossings resulting fromuser input gestures. Guidance lines 106A . . . 106I may be displayedwhen the electronic device is in a locked state, and may have a varietyof shapes, colors, widths, orientations, positions and spacings, whichmay be useful in concealing a password character, represented by atouchscreen input gesture, according to embodiments. For example,guidance line 106A may be colored red, guidance line 106B may be coloredyellow, guidance line 106G may be colored green, and guidance line 106Dmay be colored blue, according to embodiments. Differentiation ofguidance lines from adjacent guidance lines through variation of colors,thicknesses or other characteristics may enable an electronic deviceuser to easily memorize touchscreen input gestures used for passwordentry into the device. The guidance line 106A . . . 106I characteristicsof may be varied to make guidance lines 106A . . . 106I visible to auser, positioned near the electronic device, while restricting theirvisibility to other, nearby individuals.

Touchscreen 102 is depicted displaying password cubicles 108A . . .108D, which may be useful to provide user feedback indicating one ormore received password characters, in response to touchscreen inputgestures. For example, the electronic device may signal to the user thatit has received a password character, by displaying a symbol orcharacter (e.g.; an asterisk) in a formerly empty password cubicle. FIG.1 A depicts 4 password cubicles (108A . . . 108D); however, othernumbers of password cubicles may be possible.

The “0” input area 110 may be used in conjunction with entering a “0”character as part of a password. An input gesture that includes contactwith the touchscreen 102 in a “0” input area 110 may be translated bythe electronic device as a “0” password character, according toembodiments.

FIG. 1B depicts a touchscreen 102 with input gestures 104A . . . 104Cand displayed guidance lines 106A . . . 106I, consistent with FIG. 1A,according to embodiments. In certain embodiments, a touchscreen inputgesture may be translated into one password digit corresponding to thenumber of guidance line (e.g.; 106A . . . 106I) crossings detected andcalculated by the electronic device during the gesture. For example, theinput gesture 104B, which may cross 9 guidance lines (106A . . . 106I),may be converted to a password digit of “9”, according to embodiments.Detecting a guidance line crossing may include detecting the transitionof an input gesture event from a first side of a guidance line to asecond side of the guidance line.

In certain embodiments converting the number of detected guidance linecrossings into at least one password digit further may also includemultiplying the number of detected guidance line crossings by anumerical weighting value, which may be stored within the electronicdevice. For example, if the numerical weighting value is 2, and thenumber of detected guidance line crossings is 9, then the calculatednumber of guidance line crossings will be 18, which may be subsequentlyconverted into two sequential password digits of “1” and “8”. Othernumerical weighting factors and corresponding number of convertedpassword digits are possible.

Input gestures 104A and 104C depict variations of input gesture 104B,having different orientations than input gesture 104B, however thenumber of guidance line crossings resulting from any of the 3 depictedinput gestures (104A . . . 104C) may be 9. Similarly, the number ofguidance line crossings that may be detected for a particular inputgesture (e.g.; 104B) may be independent of the direction of the gesture.In embodiments, a variety of different input gestures may be received bythe electronic device and converted into the same password digit, whichmay be useful in obfuscating touchscreen input gestures and passworddigits from unauthorized users.

A first touchscreen input gesture may include a simple line, a curve, ora simple or complex shape, each of which may be traced while a usercontinuously contacts the touchscreen with a finger, stylus, or pen.Once continuous contact with the touchscreen ceases, for a predeterminedperiod of time, then the electronic device may detect further contactwith the touchscreen as a second touchscreen input gesture. In someembodiments, the predetermined period of time between touchscreengestures may be set through user interaction with program instructionsexecutable by electronic device.

FIG. 2A depicts a touchscreen 102 with touchscreen input gesture 204 anddisplayed guidance lines 106A . . . 106I, consistent with the figures,according to embodiments. In embodiments, a touchscreen input gesturethat crosses a number of guidance lines (e.g.; 106A . . . 106I) may betranslated into one password digit corresponding to the number ofguidance line crossings detected and calculated by the electronic deviceduring the gesture. For example, the input gesture 204, which may cross6 guidance lines (106A . . . 106F), may be converted to a password digitof “6”, according to embodiments. The number of guidance line crossingsthat may be detected for input gesture 204 may be independent of thedirection of the gesture.

FIG. 2B depicts a touchscreen 102 with a touchscreen input gesture 204Aresembling a numeral “6” and displayed guidance lines 106A . . . 106I,according to embodiments. The input gesture 204A, which may include 8detected guidance line crossings (106A . . . 106G), may be converted toa password digit of “8”, according to embodiments. In this example, thedirectional reversal (a first gesture motion, in a first direction,followed by a second gesture motion, in a second direction, opposite tothe first direction) of the touchscreen input gesture may cause some ofthe guidance lines (106E, 106F, 106G) to be crossed more than once perinput gesture. Each guidance line crossing, regardless of the crossingdirection, may be counted towards the total number of guidance linecrossings for an input gesture. The number of guidance line crossingsthat may be detected for input gesture 204A may be independent of thedirection(s) of the gesture. Touchscreen input gestures having similarbut symmetrical (mirrored) shapes (e.g.; “9”, or a “backwards 6”) may bereceived by the electronic device and converted into the same passworddigit (“8”), which may be useful in obfuscating touchscreen inputgestures and password digits from unauthorized users. A wide variety ofdifferent gesture shapes may be used to enter a certain password digitor series of digits. Password digit obfuscation may occur as a result ofthe shape of the touchscreen input gesture (e.g.; “9”) suggesting apassword digit that is different than the converted password digit value(e.g.; “8”).

FIG. 3A depicts a touchscreen 102 with a touchscreen input gesturehaving 2 points of contact and displayed guidance lines 106A . . . 106I,according to embodiments. The touchscreen display 102 may be configuredto detect input gesture events which may include simultaneous contact oftwo or more locations on the touchscreen 102.

Input gesture paths 304A, 304B may represent a user contacting thetouchscreen with two fingers during an input gesture. In this exampleeach of the input gesture paths 304A, 304B may cross 6 guidance lines,for a total of 12 guidance line crossings. In embodiments, if the totalcalculated number of guidance line crossings detected during an inputgesture event exceeds 9, then the total calculated number of guidanceline crossings may be converted into two password digits, in thisexample a “1” and a “2”. Touchscreen gestures involving 2 or more pointsof contact with the touchscreen may be useful in concealing thecorresponding converted password digit value(s).

FIG. 3B depicts a touchscreen 102 with a “0” touchscreen input gesture304C and displayed guidance lines 106A . . . 106I, according toembodiments. Touchscreen input gesture 304C may be useful for entering a“0” digit as part of a password to unlock the electronic device. Thetouchscreen input gesture 304C may include a touchscreen gesturelocation within a predefined “0” input area 110 of the touchscreen,which may be converted by program instructions within the electronicdevice into a “0” password digit.

In certain embodiments, program instructions may cause the electronicdevice to, in response to a delay greater than a predetermined delaybetween a first input gesture event and a second input gesture event,convert the delay to a “0” password digit. An input gesture includingpredefined “0” input area 110 of the touchscreen and converting apredetermined delay between gesture events may be useful for entering a“0” digit into the electronic device, and concealing the password fromunauthorized users. A length or shape of input gesture 304C may be usedto conceal the “0” password digit that it represents to the electronicdevice.

FIG. 4A depicts a touchscreen 102 with “0” input gesture areas 110,410A, 410B, 410C and 410D, consistent in operation with FIG. 3B,according to embodiments. The “0” input gesture areas 110, 410A, 410B,410C and 410D represent possible locations for one or more “0” inputgesture areas on the touchscreen display 102; others may be possible.Certain embodiments may use one of the depicted “0” input gesture areas,while certain embodiments may use more than one of the areas. Consistentwith input gesture 304C (FIG. 3B), an input gesture having a gesturelocation within one of the “0” input gesture areas may be converted intoa “0” password digit by program instructions within the electronicdevice. Displayed “0” input gesture areas such as 110, 410A . . . 410Dmay be enabled, moved or disabled, for example, at regular intervals, bythe program instructions within the electronic device, which may beuseful for concealing input gestures and password digits. Displayed “0”input gesture areas such as 110, 410A . . . 410D may have a coloring orshading that distinguishes them from the remainder of the touchscreendisplay, and indicates to the user they may be used as “0” input gestureareas. For example, a “0” input gesture area may be colored white, whilethe remainder of the touchscreen display has a light gray color. Subtlecolor or shading differences between a “0” input gesture area in theremainder of the touchscreen display may serve to obfuscate these areasto individuals other than the electronic device user. In embodiments,the location of input gesture areas may be customized by an electronicdevice user.

FIG. 4B depicts a touchscreen 102 displaying a numeric keypad inputarea, according to embodiments. The touchscreen display 102 may beconfigured to detect a sequence of input gestures positionally relatedto numeric keys displayed on the touchscreen, and one or more processorcircuits within the electronic device may be configured to convert theinput gestures to password digits. The display of a numeric keypad area,and receiving of password digits corresponding to the displayed keypadmay be useful for entering password digits as an alternative totouchscreen input gestures that cross guidance lines, in certaincircumstances. For example, if a user enters a predetermined number(e.g.; 3) of incorrect password digits using input gestures, programinstructions within the electronic device may replace the touchscreenguidance lines display with a numeric keypad display to enable the userto enter a password, according to embodiments. In another example, thedisplay may include a selectable icon that allows a user to switchbetween using input gestures and the numeric keypad.

FIG. 5A depicts a touchscreen 102 with curved guidance lines 506A . . .506I and input gestures 504A, 504B, according to embodiments. The curvedguidance lines 506A . . . 506I may be useful in concealing inputgestures and entered passwords from unauthorized users of an electronicdevice. For example, touchscreen input gesture 504A may include 3guidance line crossings (506B . . . 506D), and may be converted to apassword digit of “3”, according to embodiments, while a similar, nearbytouchscreen input gesture 504B may include 4 guidance line crossings(506A . . . 506D), and may be converted to a password digit of “4”,according to embodiments. A person observing a user entering one ofthese touchscreen input gestures (504A, 504B) may not be able torecognize or discern which gesture was used, or how many guidance lineswere crossed during the gesture, as a result of the close similarity ofthe gestures 504A, 504B, which may be useful for concealing thecorresponding password digit(s).

Processor circuits within the electronic device may be configured tochange (customize) the guidance line characteristics including thenumber, shape, color, width, orientation, position and spacing of thecurved guidance lines 506A . . . 506I displayed on the touchscreendisplay 102, according to embodiments. A user may change thecustomization of these characteristics by interacting with programinstructions stored within the electronic device.

FIG. 5B depicts a touchscreen 102 with irregular shaped guidance lines516A . . . 516I and input gestures 514A, 514B, according to embodiments.The irregular shaped guidance lines 516A . . . 516I may be useful inconcealing input gestures and entered passwords from unauthorized usersof an electronic device. For example, touchscreen input gesture 514A mayinclude 3 guidance line crossings (516B . . . 516D), and may beconverted to a password digit of “3”, according to embodiments, while asimilar, nearby touchscreen input gesture 514B may include 4 guidanceline crossings (516A . . . 516D), and may be converted to a passworddigit of “4”, according to embodiments. A person observing a userentering one of these touchscreen input gestures (514A, 514B) may not beable to recognize or discern which gesture was used, or how manyguidance lines were crossed during the gesture, as a result of the closesimilarity of the gestures 514A, 514B, which may be useful forconcealing the corresponding password digit(s).

FIG. 6A depicts a touchscreen 102 with concentric circular guidancelines 606A . . . 606E and input gestures 604A, 604B, according toembodiments. The concentric circular guidance lines 606A . . . 606E maybe useful in concealing input gestures and entered passwords fromunauthorized users of an electronic device. For example, touchscreeninput gesture 604A may include 2 guidance line crossings (both 606E),and may be converted to a password digit of “2”, according toembodiments, while a similar, nearby touchscreen input gesture 604B mayinclude 6 guidance line crossings (2 each of 606C, 606D, 606E), and maybe converted to a password digit of “6”, according to embodiments. Aperson observing a user entering one of these touchscreen input gestures(604A, 604B) may not be able to recognize or discern which gesture wasused, or how many guidance lines were crossed during the gesture, as aresult of the close similarity of the gestures 604A, 604B, which may beuseful for concealing the corresponding password digit(s).

FIG. 6B depicts a touchscreen 102 regular (“wavy”) guidance lines 616A .. . 616I and input gestures 614A, 614B, according to embodiments. Theregular guidance lines 616A . . . 616I may be useful in concealing inputgestures and entered passwords from unauthorized users of an electronicdevice. For example, touchscreen input gesture 614A may include 2guidance line crossings (616B, 616C), and may be converted to a passworddigit of “2”, according to embodiments, while a similar, nearbytouchscreen input gesture 614B may include 3 guidance line crossings(616A, 616B, 616C), and may be converted to a password digit of “3”,according to embodiments. A person observing a user entering one ofthese touchscreen input gestures (614A, 614B) may not be able torecognize or discern which gesture was used, or how many guidance lineswere crossed during the gesture, as a result of the close similarity ofthe gestures 614A, 614B, which may be useful for concealing thecorresponding password digit(s).

FIG. 7 depicts a touchscreen display 102 of an electronic device withguidance lines 106A . . . 106I, processor unit(s) 712, and memory 714,according to embodiments. The touchscreen 102 may be electricallyconnected to the processor units 712, and may be useful in receivinginformation to display from the processor unit(s) 712, and may sendtouchscreen 102 input information resulting from touchscreen inputgestures to the processor units 712.

Touchscreen display 102 may include a controller and firmware configuredto detect touchscreen input gestures (such as guidance line crossings)and send information regarding them to processor unit(s) 712. Thecontroller and firmware may also be configured to display informationreceived from processor unit(s) 712, such as text, images and graphics.

Processor unit(s) 712 may be a microprocessor (e.g.; an ARM processor)or other device consistent with processors used in smart phones or othermobile devices, and may be configured to execute program instructionsstored in a memory unit 714. Memory unit 714 may be a nonvolatile memorychip or module (a computer readable storage medium), suitable forholding program instructions and data used by processor unit(s) 712.

Program instructions stored in a memory unit 714 may include a computerprogram product configured to execute the steps for unlocking anelectronic device in response to detected touchscreen guidance linecrossings, according to embodiments. The steps for unlocking theelectronic device may include displaying guidance lines on thetouchscreen, calculating a number of guidance line crossings, convertingthe number of guidance line crossings into a password digit, comparing apassword digit sequence with a stored password and unlocking theelectronic device, consistent with steps described herein, andparticularly with reference to FIG. 8.

Processor unit(s) 712 may be configured to change at least one guidanceline characteristic such as the number, shape, color, width,orientation, position and spacing of the guidance lines displayed on thetouchscreen display. Processor unit(s) 712 may be configured to changeat least one guidance line characteristic at a regular time interval(which a user may specify), at a random time interval, or in response tothe electronic device entering the locked state.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram, consistent with the figures, which illustratessteps for unlocking an electronic device in response to detectedtouchscreen guidance line crossings, according to embodiments. Theprocess 800 moves from start 802 to operation 804.

Operation 804 generally refers to the step of displaying a plurality ofguidance lines on the touchscreen of the electronic device while theelectronic device is in a locked state. Consistent with the figures andtheir associated descriptions, the guidance lines may be displayedhaving a variety of characteristics including shapes, colors, widths,orientations, positions and spacings. Guidance line characteristics maybe customized by a user or changed by the electronic device at regularor irregular time intervals, and/or when the electronic device is placedin a locked state. The variety of guidance line characteristics whichmay be displayed, in conjunction with changes to the characteristics,may be useful in obfuscating the (converted) value of a password digitassociated with a touchscreen input gesture. Once plurality of guidancelines are displayed on the touchscreen of the electronic device, theprocess moves to operation 806.

Operation 806 generally refers to the step of detecting guidance linecrossings during an input gesture event. A guidance line crossing may bedetected when a user's finger or stylus crosses from one side of aguidance line to another side of the guidance line while in contact withthe touchscreen. Guidance line crossings may be detected regardless ofthe direction of the crossing, and an input gesture may include multipleguidance line crossings. Input gesture shapes may include straight,curved, circular, or may include the outline of numeral, letter, orother shape. The variety of input gesture shapes which may producedetectable guidance line crossings may be useful in obfuscating the(converted) value of a password digit associated with an input gesture.Once guidance line crossings have been detected during an input gestureevent, the process moves to operation 808.

Operation 808 generally refers to the step calculating a number ofguidance line crossings detected during an input gesture event. An inputgesture event may be determined, by the electronic device, to becompleted after a predetermined time interval elapses following the lastdetected guidance line crossing or from the last detected contact of afinger or stylus with the touchscreen. For example, a time period of 1second may be used as the predetermined time interval, after which theelectronic device may begin calculating the number of guidance linecrossings detected during the input gesture event. The predeterminedtime interval may be customizable by a user. After the number ofguidance line crossings detected has been calculated, the process movesto operation 810.

Operation 810 generally refers to the step of converting the calculatednumber of detected guidance line crossings into at least one passworddigit. The number of detected guidance line crossings may be a totalnumber resulting from input gestures having one or more points ofcontact on the touchscreen. For example, if an input gesture involves auser contacting the screen with 2 fingers, then all guidance linecrossings involving both fingers may be included in the total calculatednumber of detected guidance line crossings.

In certain embodiments, if the calculated number of detected linecrossings is greater than the number of guidance lines displayed on thetouchscreen, for example 9, the electronic device may convert number ofdetected guidance line crossings into two or more password digits. Forexample if 12 guidance line crossings are detected corresponding to aninput gesture event, the electronic device may convert a calculatednumber into the password digits “1”, “2”.

In some embodiments, the electronic device may multiply the calculatednumber of detected guidance line crossings by a numerical weightingvalue, and subsequently convert the resulting product into a calculatednumber of guidance line crossings. For example, if 6 guidance linecrossings are detected during an input gesture event, and the numericalweighting value is 2, then the subsequent calculated number of guidanceline crossings may be 12. After the calculated number of detectedguidance line crossings are converted into at least one password digit,the process moves to decision 812.

At operation 812, the total number of password digits generated byoperation 810 is compared against the number of digits in a passwordstored within the electronic device. If the total number of passworddigits generated by operation 810 is equal the number of digits in apassword stored within the electronic device, the process moves to block814. The process may also move to block 814 in response to an “enter” or“confirm” touchscreen input gesture (possibly positionally related to an“enter” key being displayed on the touchscreen) being received as anindicator from the user that the password entry is complete. If thetotal number of password digits generated by operation 810 is not equalto the number of digits in a password stored within the electronicdevice, the process returns to operation 806.

Operation 814 generally refers to the step of comparing a sequence ofpassword digits entered through touchscreen input gestures and convertedby operation 810 to a stored password in the electronic device. Afterthe sequence of password digits is compared to the stored password, theprocess moves to decision 815.

At decision 815, if the entered sequence of password digits matches thepassword stored within the electronic device, the process moves to block816. If the entered sequence of password digits does not match thepassword stored within the electronic device, the process returns tooperation 804.

Operation 816 generally refers to the step of unlocking the electronicdevice in response to a match of the sequence of password digits iscompared to the stored password of operation 814. The electronic devicemay be placed in a usable state, which may allow the user to accessresources within the device, such as sensitive data, applications andoperating system functions. After the electronic device is unlocked, theprocess 800 may end at block 818.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present disclosurehave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer implemented method for detecting inputgesture events on a touchscreen of an electronic device and forunlocking the electronic device, the method comprising: displaying,while the electronic device is in a locked state, a plurality ofguidance lines on the touchscreen of the electronic device; detecting,during an input gesture event, guidance line crossings; calculating anumber of guidance line crossings detected during the input gestureevent; converting a calculated number of detected guidance linecrossings into two password digits, based upon the calculated number ofdetected guidance line crossings exceeding 9; comparing a sequence ofpassword digits to a stored password in the electronic device; andunlocking, in response to comparing the sequence of password digits tothe stored password, the electronic device.
 2. The computer implementedmethod of claim 1, wherein the calculated number of guidance linecrossings detected during an input gesture event is converted into onepassword digit.
 3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, whereindetecting a guidance line crossing further comprises detecting atransition of an input gesture event from a first side of a guidanceline to a second side of the guidance line.
 4. The computer implementedmethod of claim 1, wherein converting the calculated number of detectedguidance line crossings into at least one password digit furthercomprises multiplying the calculated number of detected guidance linecrossings by a numerical weighting value.
 5. The computer implementedmethod of claim 1, wherein an input gesture event includes a firstgesture motion in a first direction and a second gesture motion in asecond direction different than the first direction.
 6. An electronicdevice comprising: a touchscreen display; one or more processorcircuits, configured to: display, while the electronic device is in alocked state, on the touchscreen display, a plurality of guidance lines;detect, during an input gesture event, guidance line crossings from thetouchscreen display; calculate a number of detected guidance linecrossings during the input gesture event; convert a calculated number ofdetected guidance line crossings into two password digits, based uponthe calculated number of detected guidance line crossings exceeding 9;compare a sequence of password digits to a stored password in theelectronic device; and unlock, in response to the compare of thesequence of password digits to the stored password, the electronicdevice.
 7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the one or moreprocessor circuits are further configured to detect a sequence of inputgestures positionally related to numeric keys displayed on thetouchscreen, and the one or more processor circuits further configuredto convert the input gestures to password digits.
 8. The electronicdevice of claim 6, wherein the one or more processor circuits arefurther configured to detect input gesture events which includesimultaneous contact of two or more locations on the touchscreen.
 9. Theelectronic device of claim 6, wherein the one or more processor circuitsare further configured to change at least one characteristic of a groupof characteristics consisting of the number, shape, color, width,orientation, position and spacing of the guidance lines displayed on thetouchscreen display.
 10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein theone or more processor circuits are further configured to change at leastone characteristic of the group of characteristics at a regular timeinterval.
 11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the one or moreprocessor circuits are further configured to change at least onecharacteristic of the group of characteristics at a random timeinterval.
 12. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the one or moreprocessor circuits are further configured to change at least onecharacteristic of the group of characteristics in response to theelectronic device entering the locked state.
 13. A computer programproduct for detecting input gesture events on a touchscreen of anelectronic device and for unlocking the electronic device, the computerprogram product comprising: a computer readable storage medium havingstored thereon: program instructions executable by the one or moreprocessor circuits are to cause the device to: display, while theelectronic device is in a locked state, a plurality of guidance lines onthe touchscreen of the electronic device; detect, during an inputgesture event, guidance line crossings; calculate a number of guidanceline crossings detected during the input gesture event; convert acalculated number of detected guidance line crossings into two passworddigits, based upon the calculated number of detected guidance linecrossings exceeding 9; compare a sequence of password digits to a storedpassword in the electronic device; and unlock, in response to thecompare of the sequence of password digits to a stored password, theelectronic device.
 14. The computer program product of claim 13, whereinthe program instructions are executable to further cause the device to,in response to a gesture location in a predefined area of thetouchscreen, convert the input gesture event to a “0” password digit.15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the programinstructions are executable to further cause the device to, in responseto a delay that is greater than a predetermined delay between a firstinput gesture event and a second input gesture event, convert the delayto a “0” password digit.
 16. The computer program product of claim 13,wherein the program instructions are executable to further cause thedevice to display, on the touchscreen, a symbol corresponding to anentered password digit.
 17. The computer program product of claim 13,wherein a shape of the guidance lines displayed on the touchscreen ofthe electronic device includes at least one member of a group consistingof straight, curved, regular and irregular.
 18. The computer programproduct of claim 13, wherein the program instructions are executable tofurther cause the device to allow a user of the electronic device tomodify at least one characteristic of a group of characteristicsconsisting of the number, shape, color, width, orientation, position andspacing of the guidance lines displayed on the touchscreen of theelectronic device.